smartest kid on earth

the dialogue for this video is from this american life, a radio program, but it is illustrated by chris ware, a comic book artist best known for jimmy corrigan, the smartest kid on earth, part of the acme novelty library (please google any of these phrases to find out more about him).

this particular video has a certain poignancy for me today as the student i work with as a 1:1 was assaulted by another with a knife yesterday after school in the nearby playground. in the video, although it wouldn't be known to anyone but a fan, jimmy corrigan, the smartest kid on earth, is the one being mercilessly filmed in the playground. i think about the "smartest" kids. are they inherently intelligent or do they earn that label because of the "smart" decisions they've chosen to make?

as teachers, we will be called upon time and time again to emphasize this decision-making skill. it is perhaps the most basic discipline in education. when we find ourselves failing in this regard (and we will), how creative will we get with our students to bring us and them back on track? is this the same creativity that ken robinson spoke to? will cellphones, videos, youtube and slogging play a part?